Celts star Leigh in big Eck Twitter storm
Star ‘shocked’ by online post
Striker denies ‘liking’ abusive McLeish tweet
LEIGH GRIFFITHS is adamant he has no recollection of ‘liking’ an abusive tweet about Alex McLeish and rival Scotland striker Steven Naismith.
The relationship between Griffiths and national boss McLeish has come under the
microscope this week following the Celtic striker’s surprise withdrawal from the squad for tomorrow night’s Nations League showdown in Israel – after being left on the bench last time out when Naismith led the line against Albania.
And the emergence of a social media post added fuel to the fire when it appeared as if Griffiths had personally endorsed a tweet from a Celtic fan that insulted McLeish and Naismith. He was tagged in a tweet that referred to the Scotland boss as a “ginger alkie” and Hearts striker Naismith as a “dirty git”.
Yesterday the SFA refused to comment when asked if they planned to quiz Griffiths over screen grabs of the abuse which appeared last month after the Celt had been axed from McLeish’s line-up.
But sources close to the player insisted he has been shocked by this latest twist, highlighted by BBC Scotland’s flagship evening news programme. And they stressed Griffiths denies adding his own name to the trolling.
One said: “Anyone who knows Leigh knows he’s a respectful guy who wouldn’t get involved in this kind of thing. He gets bombarded with stuff online all the time and has absolutely no recollection of ever seeing this tweet never mind pressing the like button.
“He has taken a break from the squad because he wants to work on his levels of fitness, for purely professional reasons. But he remains committed to the Scotland cause and would not do anything to risk his future involvement.”
McLeish insists he doesn’t feel let down by Griffiths but the loss of the Celtic striker and winger Ryan Fraser, who withdrew yesterday, is a blow to his attacking options.
He said: “Leigh doesn’t feel he is fit enough and wants to concentrate on his fitness and you have to respect his decision.
“I had a good chat with him on Saturday and he has cleared that up with his statement.
“I’m not going to throw him under a bus as such. He came to the games last time round and there was no animosity whatsoever.”
McLeish tried Fraser out in a right wing-back role against Belgium last month without much success.
But he added: “To see Ryan unleashing his pace and power in a more forward position with Bournemouth opened my eyes to playing him in a different position and maybe changing the system. However he failed a medical and we’d no choice but to send him back.”